צָרַר (H6887) — Hebrew Lexicon

צָרַר

𐤑𐤓𐤓

tsârar

H6887 verb

SILEX Entry

Root צָרַר to bind, to tie up, to press, to restrict

Definition

To bind tightly, to confine, to cramp, to oppress. The verb denotes causing someone or something to be restricted, troubled, or placed in adverse circumstances, both literally (physically limiting, binding, confining) and figuratively (subjecting to adversity, enmity, or distress). Used in various stems to express actions like laying siege, afflicting, oppressing, causing distress or trouble, or treating as an adversary.

Semantic Range

to bind up, to enclose, to cramp, to confine, to oppress, to afflict, to treat as an adversary, to besiege, to cause distress, to put in a narrow space, to shut up, to vex, to bring trouble

Root / Etymology

צָרַר (tsārar) derives from the triconsonantal Hebrew root צ-ר-ר (צָרַר), meaning 'to bind, to tie up, to press.' The basic sense is physical restriction or compression, which expands metaphorically to the restriction of freedom, or creating an adverse situation affecting well-being.

Historical & Contextual Notes

Across biblical literature, צָרַר is often used to describe acts of physical restraint, such as binding or enclosing, but more frequently appears in metaphorical contexts signifying oppression, distress, or enmity. In the premonarchic and monarchic periods, it describes external adversity from enemies (e.g., besieging Israelite cities, Ps 31:12, Judges 16:21), and internal trouble (e.g., emotional distress, Job 36:8). The noun and participial forms (צַר, 'enemy, adversary') relate to the same semantic field of hostility or adversity but are lexically distinct. In post-exilic and later texts the root continues to carry a strong sense of causing hardship, but the nuances can range from general trouble to explicit hostility. English translations may narrow the sense to 'afflict' or 'oppress,' but the Hebrew verb includes a broader semantic range involving any form of causing distress or restriction, whether physical, emotional, or circumstantial.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a primitive root; to cramp, literally or figuratively, transitive or intransitive; adversary, (be in) afflict(-ion), beseige, bind (up), (be in, bring) distress, enemy, narrower, oppress, pangs, shut up, be in a strait (trouble), vex.

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Root Family

צרר (ts-r-r) — to bind, to tie up, to press, to restrict

Strong's	Lemma	SIBI-P1
H6862	צַר	the constrictor
H6863	צֵר	Tsêr
H6869	צָרָה	in the constraining distress
H6872	צְרוֹר	in a bound bundle of
H6888	צְרֵרָה	Enclosure-town

Word Forms

31 distinct forms

SIDANCE	Surface	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	Occurrences
`H6887-17`	צוֹרְרָֽ/י	tsoreray	`HVqrmpc/Sp1cs`	my adversaries	my binding-ones	6
`H6887-16`	צֹרֵֽר	tsorer	`HVqrmsa`	enemy	one who binds	5
`H6887-06`	צַר	tsar	`HVqp3ms`	I am distressed	pressing one	5
`H6887-20`	צֹרְרֶֽי/ךָ	tsorereykha	`HVqrmpc/Sp2ms`	your adversaries	your binders	4
`H6887-11`	צְרָר֣וּ/נִי	tseraruni	`HVqp3cp/Sp1cs`	have they distressed me	they bound me tight	2
`H6887-13`	צְרֻרֹ֥ת	tserurot	`HVqsfpa`	bound up	bound ones	2
`H6887-08`	צָרַ֥ר	tsarar	`HVqp3ms`	has bound	he bound tightly	2
`H6887-27`	וְ/הֵצַ֨ר	vehetsar	`HC/Vhq3ms`	and-he-will-besiege	and he pressed in upon	2
`H6887-05`	מְצֵרָֽה	metserah	`HVhrfsa`	in labor	one who causes distress	2
`H6887-25`	וַ/הֲצֵר֥וֹתִי	vahatseroti	`HC/Vhq1cs`	and-I-will-bring-distress	and I caused to confine tightly	2
`H6887-07`	צָ֖רָה	tsarah	`HVqp3fs`	is narrow	distress	1
`H6887-09`	צָר֖וֹר	tsaror	`HVqa`	Harass	to bind tightly	1
`H6887-29`	וְ/צַרְתָּ֤	vetsareta	`HC/Vqq2ms`	and bind	and you bound	1
`H6887-24`	וּ/מְצֹרָרִֽים	umetsorarim	`HC/VPsmpa`	and mended	and those being oppressed	1
`H6887-03`	כִּ/צְר֣וֹר	kitseror	`HR/Vqc`	like a bundle	binding tightly	1
`H6887-18`	צ֝וֹרְרָ֗י/ו	tsorerayv	`HVqrmpc/Sp3ms`	his enemies	his binders	1
`H6887-19`	צֹרְרֵ֤י	tsorerey	`HVqrmpc`	afflicting	binders of	1
`H6887-12`	צְרוּרָ֣ה	tserurah	`HVqsfsa`	bound	bound one	1
`H6887-28`	וְ/צָרֲר֣וּ	vetsararu	`HC/Vqq3cp`	and shall vex	and they bound tightly	1
`H6887-01`	הָצֵ֣ר	hatser	`HVhc`	of his distress	to cause distress	1
`H6887-04`	לִ/צְרֹ֗ר	litseror	`HR/Vqc`	as a rival	to bind tightly	1
`H6887-31`	יָצֹ֥ר	yatsor	`HVqi3ms`	will harass	he will bind tight	1
`H6887-22`	צֹרְרִ֥ים	tsorerim	`HVqrmpa`	they are hostile to	the binding ones	1
`H6887-26`	וַ/יָּצַר֩	vayatsar	`HC/Vqw3ms`	and he bound	and he bound tightly	1
`H6887-21`	צוֹרְרִ֣/י	tsoreri	`HVqrmsc/Sp1cs`	my adversary	my binder	1
`H6887-23`	וּ/כְ/הָצֵ֣ר	ukhehatser	`HC/R/Vhc`	and-when he-was-in-distress	and as causing distress	1
`H6887-14`	צ֖וֹר	tsor	`HVqv2ms`	Bind up	Tsor	1
`H6887-02`	הַ/צֹּרֵ֣ר	hatsorer	`HTd/Vqrmsa`	who oppresses	the one who binds	1
`H6887-15`	צֹרֲרֵ֣י	tsorarey	`HVqrmpc`	those-who-afflict	binders of	1
`H6887-10`	צָרוּר֙	tsarur	`HVqsmsa`	is bound up	bound one	1
`H6887-30`	יָֽצַר	yatsar	`HVhi3ms`	besieges	he bound tight	1

Occurrences in Scripture

53 total occurrences

SIDANCE	Reference	Word	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1
`H6887-13`	Exodus 12:34	צְרֻרֹ֥ת	tserurot	`HVqsfpa`	bound up	bound ones
`H6887-20`	Exodus 23:22	צֹרְרֶֽי/ךָ	tsorereykha	`HVqrmpc/Sp2ms`	your adversaries	your binders
`H6887-04`	Leviticus 18:18	לִ/צְרֹ֗ר	litseror	`HR/Vqc`	as a rival	to bind tightly
`H6887-02`	Numbers 10:9	הַ/צֹּרֵ֣ר	hatsorer	`HTd/Vqrmsa`	who oppresses	the one who binds
`H6887-09`	Numbers 25:17	צָר֖וֹר	tsaror	`HVqa`	Harass	to bind tightly
`H6887-22`	Numbers 25:18	צֹרְרִ֥ים	tsorerim	`HVqrmpa`	they are hostile to	the binding ones
`H6887-28`	Numbers 33:55	וְ/צָרֲר֣וּ	vetsararu	`HC/Vqq3cp`	and shall vex	and they bound tightly
`H6887-29`	Deuteronomy 14:25	וְ/צַרְתָּ֤	vetsareta	`HC/Vqq2ms`	and bind	and you bound
`H6887-27`	Deuteronomy 28:52	וְ/הֵצַ֨ר	vehetsar	`HC/Vhq3ms`	and-he-will-besiege	and he pressed in upon
`H6887-27`	Deuteronomy 28:52	וְ/הֵצַ֤ר	vehetsar-2	`HC/Vhq3ms`	and-he-will-besiege	and he pressed in upon
`H6887-24`	Joshua 9:4	וּ/מְצֹרָרִֽים	umetsorarim	`HC/VPsmpa`	and mended	and those being oppressed
`H6887-12`	1 Samuel 25:29	צְרוּרָ֣ה	tserurah	`HVqsfsa`	bound	bound one
`H6887-06`	1 Samuel 28:15	צַר	tsar	`HVqp3ms`	distressed	pressing one
`H6887-06`	2 Samuel 1:26	צַר	tsar	`HVqp3ms`	I am distressed	pressing one
`H6887-13`	2 Samuel 20:3	צְרֻר֛וֹת	tserurot	`HVqsfpa`	shut-up	bound ones
`H6887-30`	1 Kings 8:37	יָֽצַר	yatsar	`HVhi3ms`	besieges	he bound tight
`H6887-26`	2 Kings 5:23	וַ/יָּצַר֩	vayatsar	`HC/Vqw3ms`	and he bound	and he bound tightly
`H6887-14`	Isaiah 8:16	צ֖וֹר	tsor	`HVqv2ms`	Bind up	Tsor
`H6887-31`	Isaiah 11:13	יָצֹ֥ר	yatsor	`HVqi3ms`	will harass	he will bind tight
`H6887-07`	Isaiah 28:20	צָ֖רָה	tsarah	`HVqp3fs`	is narrow	distress
`H6887-25`	Jeremiah 10:18	וַ/הֲצֵר֥וֹתִי	vahatseroti	`HC/Vhq1cs`	and-I-will-distress	and I caused to confine tightly
`H6887-05`	Jeremiah 48:41	מְצֵרָֽה	metserah	`HVhrfsa`	in labor	one who causes distress
`H6887-05`	Jeremiah 49:22	מְצֵרָֽה	metserah	`HVhrfsa`	in labor	one who causes distress
`H6887-08`	Hosea 4:19	צָרַ֥ר	tsarar	`HVqp3ms`	has bound	he bound tightly
`H6887-10`	Hosea 13:12	צָרוּר֙	tsarur	`HVqsmsa`	is bound up	bound one
`H6887-19`	Amos 5:12	צֹרְרֵ֤י	tsorerey	`HVqrmpc`	afflicting	binders of
`H6887-25`	Zephaniah 1:17	וַ/הֲצֵרֹ֣תִי	vahatseroti	`HC/Vhq1cs`	and-I-will-bring-distress	and I caused to confine tightly
`H6887-17`	Psalms 6:8	צוֹרְרָֽ/י	tsoreray	`HVqrmpc/Sp1cs`	my adversaries	my binding-ones
`H6887-21`	Psalms 7:5	צוֹרְרִ֣/י	tsoreri	`HVqrmsc/Sp1cs`	my adversary	my binder
`H6887-17`	Psalms 7:7	צוֹרְרָ֑/י	tsoreray	`HVqrmpc/Sp1cs`	my-persecutors	my binding-ones
`H6887-20`	Psalms 8:3	צוֹרְרֶ֑י/ךָ	tsorereykha	`HVqrmpc/Sp2ms`	your adversaries	your binders
`H6887-18`	Psalms 10:5	צ֝וֹרְרָ֗י/ו	tsorerayv	`HVqrmpc/Sp3ms`	his enemies	his binders
`H6887-17`	Psalms 23:5	צֹרְרָ֑/י	tsoreray	`HVqrmpc/Sp1cs`	my enemies	my binding-ones
`H6887-06`	Psalms 31:10	צַ֫ר	tsar	`HVqp3ms`	in distress	pressing one
`H6887-17`	Psalms 31:12	צֹרְרַ֨/י	tsoreray	`HVqrmpc/Sp1cs`	my adversaries	my binding-ones
`H6887-17`	Psalms 42:11	צוֹרְרָ֑/י	tsoreray	`HVqrmpc/Sp1cs`	my-adversaries	my binding-ones
`H6887-06`	Psalms 69:18	צַר	tsar	`HVqp3ms`	I am distressed	pressing one
`H6887-17`	Psalms 69:20	צוֹרְרָֽ/י	tsoreray	`HVqrmpc/Sp1cs`	my oppressors	my binding-ones
`H6887-20`	Psalms 74:4	צֹ֭רְרֶי/ךָ	tsorereykha	`HVqrmpc/Sp2ms`	your enemies	your binders
`H6887-20`	Psalms 74:23	צֹרְרֶ֑י/ךָ	tsorereykha	`HVqrmpc/Sp2ms`	of your adversaries	your binders
`H6887-11`	Psalms 129:1	צְרָר֣וּ/נִי	tseraruni	`HVqp3cp/Sp1cs`	have they distressed me	they bound me tight
`H6887-11`	Psalms 129:2	צְרָר֣וּ/נִי	tseraruni	`HVqp3cp/Sp1cs`	have they distressed me	they bound me tight
`H6887-15`	Psalms 143:12	צֹרֲרֵ֣י	tsorarey	`HVqrmpc`	those-who-afflict	binders of
`H6887-03`	Proverbs 26:8	כִּ/צְר֣וֹר	kitseror	`HR/Vqc`	like a bundle	binding tightly
`H6887-08`	Proverbs 30:4	צָֽרַר	tsarar	`HVqp3ms`	has wrapped	he bound tightly
`H6887-16`	Job 26:8	צֹרֵֽר	tsorer	`HVqrmsa`	wraps up	one who binds
`H6887-06`	Lamentations 1:20	צַר	tsar	`HAamsa`	distress	pressing one
`H6887-16`	Esther 3:10	צֹרֵ֥ר	tsorer	`HVqrmsc`	enemy	one who binds
`H6887-16`	Esther 8:1	צֹרֵ֣ר	tsorer	`HVqrmsc`	enemy	one who binds
`H6887-16`	Esther 9:10	צֹרֵ֥ר	tsorer	`HVqrmsc`	the enemy	one who binds
`H6887-16`	Esther 9:24	צֹרֵר֙	tsorer	`HVqrmsc`	enemy	one who binds
`H6887-01`	2 Chronicles 28:22	הָצֵ֣ר	hatser	`HVhc`	of his distress	to cause distress
`H6887-23`	2 Chronicles 33:12	וּ/כְ/הָצֵ֣ר	ukhehatser	`HC/R/Vhc`	and-when he-was-in-distress	and as causing distress

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